When I eventually go to the pearly gates, I assume I’ll be leaving income tax behind. It would be a rather rude surprise to find I have lifetime employment in the great beyond, too.
This past week I needed to amend a 2019 federal return. A couple left off one item from their return. It had no impact on their tax, but the return did need to be amended. The IRS is now allowing amended 2019 federal returns to be electronically filed, so after obtaining the signature document I efiled the return. That’s a lot more efficient than mailing the return to the IRS.
But the return was rejected, because the spouse was deceased. That was true, and was noted on the originally filed return. The original return was electronically filed, so I couldn’t see why the amended return couldn’t be. Silly me, I missed yet another exception to the ability to electronically file amended returns. You cannot electronically file an amended return if a spouse is deceased. This wasn’t listed in any of the IRS notices announcing electronic filing of amended returns.
Unfortunately, that exception is real and is an IRS issue. My software company confirmed it’s an IRS programming issue and at least for now any amended return with a deceased taxpayer needs to be mailed to the IRS. Still, at least most 2019 amended returns can be electronically filed.
Tags: 2020.Tax.Season